Boko Haram Kills 34 in Northeastern Nigeria Villages

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - Suspected Boko Haram fighters killed at least 34 and injured several others in attacks on villages near Chibok and Konduga in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state earlier this week, residents and local officials said.

The gunmen attacked the Tamsu-Shehuri village on Wednesday night where they killed more than 12 people, said a resident.

"Many of them came riding on (motor) bikes and Hilux vans, and all of them were armed with rifles," said Aisami Bashir, a member of a local civilian protection militia. "They opened fire on the village as residents began to flee. Many aged persons who could not run were caught and killed. They broke into homes and looted their belongings - especially their food items."

Barely 24 hours after the first attack, gunmen hit a nearby village, Ladi-Shehuri, where they killed and burned a man in his car. Soldiers from Konduga responded and killed about a dozen of the attackers, according to Bashir.

"The soldiers in Konduga did well when they arrived on time to engage and killed the 12 gunmen who came riding on four motorcycles," he said.

Soldiers based in Konduga have earned a reputation of foiling dozens of attacks launched by Boko Haram on the town, he said. Konduga is 35 kilometers (22 miles) southeast of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

Suspected Boko Haram fighters on Thursday attacked Chibok, the town where in April last year Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls who are still missing.

Twenty-one people were killed this week in coordinated attacks on communities around Chibok, said Suleiman Ali a local government official told journalists in Maiduguri. Boko Haram members riding motorcycles attacked Gatamarwa, Lehu and Makalawa villages near Chibok on Thursday, he said.

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